South Korea, the United States and Japan started operating a system to share real-time information on North Korean ballistic missiles on Tuesday, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said.
The move came as the countries strengthen trilateral cooperation amid repeated missile test-firings by Pyongyang. The system is expected to enable the three nations to detect and track projectiles fired by North Korea more swiftly and accurately.
“The three countries established the system to detect and evaluate missiles launched by North Korea in real-time to improve capabilities to secure the safety of the people,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that the system’s capabilities were successfully verified through recently held pre-tests and that it is operating normally.
The start of operations came just a day after North Korea launched what it said was a Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile. The last time North Korea fired an ICBM was on July 12.
The ministry also said that the three countries established multiyear plans for trilateral military drills. They will be implemented from next year to better respond to rising missile and nuclear threats from North Korea.
Source : Kyodo News
